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Greece inflict more misery on struggling Ireland

Updated / Wednesday, 11 Sep 2024 08:45
It was a fourth competitive home defeat on the spin for Ireland
It was a fourth competitive home defeat on the spin for Ireland

An improved performance, but ultimately another losing one as Ireland were beaten 2-0 by Greece in tonight's UEFA Nations League encounter at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland appeared to be in control following an assured first-half display, but ultimately Heimir Hallgrimsson's side were undone by goals at either end of the second half.

Fotis Ioannidis opened the scoring with a fine effort four minutes after the break, before an 87th-minute Christos Tzolis strike sealed the points for the visitors as Ireland open their campaign with back-to-back defeats to kick-off the new manager’s tenure.

There was a curiosity about Hallgrimsson’s selection ahead of the game, and only at kick-off would it become apparent as to how exactly he had sent his charges into battle.

Initial inspections would suggest that Andrew Omobamidele was asked to play at right back in a kind of 4-4-1-1 unit with Chiedozie Ogbene on the right of a four-man midfield. Alan Browne and Jayson Molumby sat in the heart of midfield, while Will Smallbone began just behind striker Sammie Szmodics.

But it was the visitors who went straight on the attack in the opening minute as Kostas Tsimikas raced forward before delivering a fine ball into the box, which was cleared by Collins.

Greece were noticeably attempting to exploit space with quick, cross-field deliveries with wide men hugging both flanks, however, nothing really troubled the home side in the opening 10 minutes with Ireland looking considerably more comfortable on the ball than they had against England.

The first real chance arrived in the 11th minute from a set-piece, but it came from a Greece corner, and Konstantinos Koulierakis found space to guide a looping header towards the back post, however, it dropped onto the roof of the net.

Ireland played their way into the game with their energetic approach reaping rewards, and in the 22nd minute a fine move started by a diagonal ball to Ogbene, which saw Smallbone cleverly link the play from the inside position.

The initial attack was repelled, however, Smallbone was on hand once more, slipping a perfect pass to Knight who pulled it back for Browne, however, his deflected effort popped up into the keeper’s hands.

Greece threatened once more from the set-piece as Smallbone fouled Tasos Bakasetas just outside the area. The captain dusted himself down and whipped a left-footed effort around the wall, and while it was probably staying outside the post, Caoimhín Kelleher took no chances.

In the 33rd minute, the ever-lively Szmodics latched onto a long clearance and looked to catch Odysseas Vlachodimos off his line, hooking the bouncing ball goalwards – the keeper scrambled back, but the looping effort was always clearing the crossbar.

But it was a sign of the growing confidence in this Ireland performance, while the players, perhaps, had been given licence to take chances, especially in the opponents' half of the pitch.

And while Greece were still looking to play through the Ireland lines with their fast and accurate passing game, there always appeared to be an extra green jersey on hand to intercept, leaving Kelleher untroubled throughout.

Finally an Ireland set-piece presented itself in the 38th minute; a chance to threaten the Greece penalty area with a free from about 40 yards from goal.

It was well worked, with Collins deep, helping the ball back across the face for Szmodics to shoot, the referee, however, deemed the aerial challenge illegal with Bakasetas needing attention following the Collins collision.

Christos Tzolis scored Greece's second goal to put them game beyond Ireland

A minute later Ogbene raced onto another cross-field ball, took a touch before rifling it into the top corner with his left foot, the keeper’s fingers unable to prevent it from hitting the back of the net.

Ogbene, however, always looked like he had gone a touch too soon, and while the linesman let the move play out, his flag was rightly raised ruining the celebrations.

Then in the 44th minute, Ireland had another chance to take the lead as Ogeben and Smallbone linked up once more before the ball was rolled square to the arriving Browne who blasted over the bar from just outside the box as the sides went into the break scoreless.

Old habits die hard, and just four minutes after the restart Greece took the lead. Ireland have developed a habit of getting caught cold after the half-time break and conceding goals from outside the box, and this unwanted double act came back to haunt them.

Greece had moved the ball deep into Ireland territory, however, there were numbers back and all appeared to be under control.

But then Fotis Ioannidis drifted between the two centre-halves along the edge of the box, before receiving the ball in space. By the time Dara O’Shea looked to charge down the attempt, the ball was already curling perfectly into the top corner.

Caoimhin Kelleher had no time to react and could only watch on as he knew he was beaten before the ball nestled in the back of the net.

Ireland needed a reaction and looked to hit back straight away with Jason Knight arriving onto a whipped ball into the box from the right, however, he could not direct his header on target.

But if anything, Greece were buoyed by their goal and started to really drive at the Irish back line, knowing that space would now present itself as their opponents went in search of an equaliser.

Evan Ferguson was then sent into the fray with half an hour remaining, but it was Greece who still looked the more likely to add to their tally as first Bakasetas’ shot was blocked by Browne and then a minute later the captain clipped another free just wide of the post.

Greece were happy to allow the yellow card count to rise as they looked to stop Ireland from building momentum, but then another set-piece opportunity put pressure on the Greece goal.

Kasey McAteer and Matt Doherty came on as Ireland set up the free, and it eventually led to a chance for Szmodics, however, he could not get any power on his header from close range.

Into the final 15, and if Ireland were going to get anything from this game they would have to conjure up something without the support of the home crowd who had gone completely quiet since the Greece goal.

The team did give the crowd something to shout about in the 80th minute as Ogbene cut in from the right and worked the ball into the box. Smallbone arrived into the area as it was pulled back from the byline, however, he was just ahead of the ball and could not angle his body to force an attempt on goal.

A final throw of the dice as Callum Robinson and Adam Idah were sent on in the 84th minute, and it almost had the desired effect, as McAteer raced in from the left before helping the ball across the box for the Cardiff forward to latch onto it at the back post. Robinson’s clipped effort took a deflection, which looped it just beyond the far post.

And Greece would then wrap it all up two minutes later as they broke from a quick throw-in on the left before Christos Tzolis timed his run and raced beyond Nathan Collins and Doherty before smashing the ball low to Kelleher’s right, again the keeper with little chance of saving.

A killer blow for the home side who were hoping to salvage something late in the game, and it was Greece who could have actually added a third in injury time as Ireland had nothing left to give in the final minutes as the game ended with another defeat as their miserable run of results continues.

Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; Andrew Omobamidele (Matt Doherty 74), Dara O'Shea, Nathan Collins (captain); Chiedozie Ogbene (Callum Robinson 84), Robbie Brady, Jayson Molumby (Evan Ferguson 63), Alan Browne, Will Smallbone, Jason Knight (Kasey McAteer 74); Sammie Szmodics (Adam Idah 84)

Greece: Odysseas Vlachodimos; Kostas Tsimikas, Lazaros Rota, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Ntinos Mavropanos; Andreas Bouchalakis (Tasos Douvikas 68), Manolis Siopis (Andreas Ntoi 88), Tasos Bakasetas (captain), Christos Tzolis (Giorgos Vagiannidis 89), Tasos Chatzigiovanis (Dimitris Pelkas 68); Fotis Ioannidis (Vangelis Pavlidis 88)

Referee: Espen Eskås (NOR)

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